I am not sure if yesterday's blog got published yesterday, or today, or twice. The internet was acting funny.
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In the town of Foynes, county of Limerick
Off to quaint little Limerick Town; we thought. After a 1/2 hour bus ride to Limerick, through some wonderful green countryside, beguiled by a lovely Irish guide, we drove into a rather industrial and worn city of about 300,000 souls.
We could have been in any one of thousands of cities in the western world. We were expecting a friendly little town full of smiling Irish folk, instead we got busy town citizens bustling about on a Saturday in the city.
Our guide managed to steer us through something close to what we had expected, narrow streets and interesting pubs and shops. By the way, I have come to the conclusion that many of the troubles that the Irish have encountered may have originated by their apparent love of drink! My gosh, there are pubs and bars everywhere, and they make no bones about it either.
There is much history here, as everywhere, but today we saw a castle that still stands today that was built by King John in about 1200. My gosh, that is almost at the beginning of 'English' history, or close to it. 1066 was the Norman Invasion and 1200 was not much after that. I am sure the castle has been restored and repaired many, many times but it is impressive to see it so intact and actually read and hear about the accounts of those early days. If the walls could talk!
After the wandering tour we all, [32 of us in two groups], met in a pub for a drop of whatever we pleased. Then, back to the ship.
The guide made an interesting point today when he said that Ireland did not benefit very muchfrom the Industrial Revolution, which was driven by steam and coal. Ireland does not have coal, and it was primarily agricultural oriented, so it stood still and was basically a peasant society until comparatively recent times.
The dock where we berthed is a very industrial site and tight for this ship to get into. The body of water we passed through at the narrowest point this morning is about 150 yards across and the ship has to go in or out with or against the tide, and a two-tug escort.
Upon departing at the end of the day, the ship had to leave 1/2 hour early because of the tide and winds and be swung by the same two tugs. The water is shallow here and the captain said that if they waited longer the flow of the tide would be too much for the ship to be swung and block the flow of water going in. The last bus of people on tour had to watch the ship sail away and then wait while we stood by in a larger bay some disitance away and then they could be transported by tender to the ship.
We have had our last Irish port and tonight we sail for France with tomorrow being a sea day. Next port on Monday: Le Havre.
A view of the old castle.
We shoot flowers whenever we see them.
The details of the castle.
Flowers help make the scene more attractive.
Taken by a gent from Florida.
The Limerick Rowing club, it needs a bit of tender loving care methinks.
The walls of the River Shannon, made more picturesque by some struggling flowers.
This took a bit of composing: the lamp post, the hanging basket, the Rowing Club building and my lovely wife.
These very, very old stone steps come up from the river bottom, now in disuse.
A small river flows into the Shannon here and is managed by locks to access the Shannon.
Just a pleasant street scene.
Modern history, by comparison.
A decent shot of King John's castle, right on the river.
Once a very important place, and potatoes to some extent determined Ireland's place in modern times.
Mostly Guiness was the choice here today.
An Irish pub bar.
On the way out tonight. Beautiful and lush, made so by the rains.
Tug to the rear of us...
Tug to the front of us...
Goodbye Ireland...
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